James frequently is the only reason to watch the Cleveland Cavaliers. It used to be that way for Bryant and the Lakers.

James skipped college to join the pro ranks. So did Bryant.

James is a 6-foot-8 forward. Bryant is a 6-6 guard.

The two superstars will be on the floor together today at Staples Center, when the Lakers play host to the Cavaliers. It’s a marquee matchup in every way but the most important one. James won’t be guarding Bryant and Bryant won’t be guarding James.

Well, it certainly makes for good theater, which is why the game will be nationally televised starting at 12:30 p.m. The league is all about star power, and James and Bryant have enough of it to light up any court in any city.

James is averaging a league- leading 29.6 points on 48.1 percent shooting one season after leading the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals for the first time in the franchise’s inglorious history.

Bryant, the league’s two-time defending scoring champion, is second behind James so far this season with an average of 27.7points on 44.8 percent shooting. He has adjusted his game somewhat to better fit the Lakers’ newfound balance in 2007-08. He is playing fewer minutes and scoring fewer points.

But since they don’t stare each other down all that often, it’s not as much of a one-on-one grudge match as, say, Bryant versus Raja Bell of the Phoenix Suns or Bryant versus Michael Redd of the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Occasionally, but not as a steady diet,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of playing Bryant against James.

Of James, Jackson said rather flatly, “He’s playing well.”

The Cavaliers (23-19) have won eight of 10 games. The Lakers (27-14) have won seven of 10, but have lost three of their past four games.

The Cavaliers and James won the first meeting with the Lakers and Bryant on Dec. 20 in Cleveland. James scored 33 points and Bryant had 21 in that game.

All fouled up: The Lakers shot 40 free throws and the Mavericks shot 36 during Dallas’ victory Friday. All those trips to the free-throw line made for a choppy game, one Jackson expected but hoped he and the Lakers would not have to endure.

Jackson also took a postgame swipe at Dallas coach Avery Johnson and team owner Mark Cuban without mentioning either by name.

“We knew it was going to be like that,” Jackson said. “They like to do that. The coach gets on the referee. The referee is kind of animated. There’s a lot of focus on that in this organization. So you come in here and there’s a lot of focus on that. A lot of fouls are called a lot of times.

“The Mavs play that kind of a game, so you’ve got to be real careful. It can change the concept how you play because of the fouls.”

Elliott Teaford covers the Anaheim Ducks for the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. He covered the Ducks for 12 years, including the Stanley Cup season, for the Los Angeles Times and the Daily Breeze before returning to the beat in 2018 for SCNG. He also covered the Lakers for five seasons, including their back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and '10. He once made a jump shot over future Utah Jazz center Mark Eaton during a pickup game in 1980 at Cypress College.